McCain reportedly makes his VP choice

WASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain has decided on his running mate, two Republican strategists in contact with McCain's campaign said Wednesday. He is expected to reveal his choice at a rally at a basketball arena in Dayton, Ohio, at 11 a.m. Friday.

McCain's decision is known only to his small inner circle of advisers, no more than three or four people, who have refused all public discussion on the matter. Republicans close to the campaign said the top contenders remained the same three men who have been the source of speculation for weeks: former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and, possibly, Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn.

It was unclear how seriously McCain was considering his good friend, Lieberman, who favors abortion rights and whose selection could set off a revolt among delegates at the Republican National Convention next week in Minneapolis-St. Paul as well as a furious backlash among Christian conservatives, a crucial voting bloc of the Republican Party.

But as recently as Tuesday, McCain was said to still be entertaining the idea of Lieberman, who was Al Gore's running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket in 2000.

Obama, Biden plan 3-state sweep by bus

DENVER — When Barack Obama and Joseph Biden campaign by bus in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio after wrapping up the Democratic National Convention, they'll be following a familiar route.

Republicans George W. Bush and Dick Cheney took a whistle-stop tour by train of Ohio, Michigan and Illinois after leaving their national convention in 2000. And Democrats Bill Clinton and Al Gore in 1992 launched a 1,000-mile post-convention bus tour that took them to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri.

The campaign tradition of whistle-stop tours began in 1948, when Harry Truman used it in his successful presidential campaign.

Ex-Dem chair may seek Va. governorship

DENVER — Terry McAuliffe, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and a key adviser to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., is considering running for governor of Virginia next year.

McAuliffe spoke to the Virginia delegation at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, after his speech in support of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

Speculation that McAuliffe is interested in being governor of Virginia has been percolating at the convention all week.

GOP softens platform to bolster McCain

MINNEAPOLIS — Republicans are putting John McCain's campaign priorities above some of their pet issues, including drilling for oil in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and denying citizenship to the U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants.

Members of the GOP platform committee voted Wednesday to stick with an energy plank that doesn't mention drilling in the refuge, saying it would only highlight an area where they differ with the Arizona senator.

The panel also turned back a move to deny citizenship to U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants. Opponents raised constitutional concerns and said the proposal would complicate life for McCain, who has sponsored legislation giving illegal immigrants a path toward legal status but now prioritizes border security.

ALSO

Ohio election: Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has ordered a special election Nov. 18 to replace Democratic Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, who died Aug. 20 after suffering a brain hemorrhage. If more than one candidate from each party files, a primary election will be held Oct. 14.

Arnold no-show? California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, slated for a high-profile role on the opening night of the Republican National Convention on Monday, said Wednesday that he will skip the gathering if California lawmakers haven't reached an agreement on a state budget by then.

Seattle Times news services